Water motor



Patented July 14, 1925.

"UNITED TAT-Es .EDWIN A. limits. or' Annnnrorfnn cALrronN-IA. i

'WATER Moron.

Appiieation `area october 2e, aww. Serrat Na 597,121.

Toall whom t may Aconcer/n.'

lBe it known .that I, @ED-WIN A. Jnitlrs, a citizen of the United States', and alres'ident of Alde-rpoint, county of IbIumboldt, State ofv California, have inf-vented a new and useful )Vater Motor, of which the following [is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in water motors and has particular referenceto a motor of the character described adapted to be used principally in rivers to utilize the current of the river for the setting in motion of a Water wheel.a A particular problem to be overcome in this connection is offered by the fact that rivers usually rise and fall and a water motor, for best results, should be constructed in such a manner that the water Wheel can be readily raised and lowered to adjust the same to the level of the river. The machine described in the following specification is designed to oder an easy means for raising and lowering the water wheel kwithout interfering with the transmission of power f from the saine.

The preferred form of myinvention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my motor, and Figure 2 a front elevation of the same. While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention it should be understood that various changes or modifil cations may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Two pillars (1) are anchored in the bed of the river in any suitable manner in spaced and parallel relation toeach other. The pillars are provided with Slots (2) which latter are grooved as shown at (3) to receive bearing members (4) adapted to slide in the grooves. A horizontal shaft (6) is supported in the two bearing members (4) and forms the center of the Water wheel 7) constructed in any suitable manner and shown in the drawing as comprising a plurality of water engaging blades (8) secured at the ends of spokes (9) fastened to the hubs (11). When in operation the shaft (6) is disposed so that the lower blades dip into the water and are carried forward by the current whereby the wheel is caused to rotate.

The wheel is provided with an internal gear (12) meshing with a pinion (13) on the jack shaft (14) which latter is supported invone offthe bearing members and provided at the other end with -a bevel gear (16) adapted to'engage a bevel gearl(17) of the vertical shaft (18).L This shaft is sup ported Vin `parallel `relation 'tol one of the ipillars witlrfreedom of sliding motion. Its lower end rests in a vbearing (19) in the bracket (21) secured to the bearing member (4) and a suitable number of other bearings (22) engage the shaft so as to maintain the same in its vertical position. A bevel gear (23) slidable o-n the shaft but rotating with the same engages the bevel gear (24) on the horizontal shaft (26) which .lat-ter is the power shaft from which the power may be taken in any suitable manner not shown in the drawing.

Above the water wheel atan elevation sufficiently high to amply clear the water when it rises to its highest point I provide a horizontal shaft (27) supported in bearings (2S) secured to the pillars (1). When this shaft is rotated a cable (31)` is adapted to be wound on the same between twocollars (32) on either side, each cable engaging with one end a hook (33) secured to each bearing member (4), so that the bearing member (4) and with them the water wheel may be raised and lowered by rotating` the shaft The latter is provided at its outer `end with a bevel gear (34) meshing with a bevel gear (36) slidable on the shaft (18) and rotating with the latter. These latter bevel gears are normally kept from engaging one another but may be meshed by means of the handle (37) pivoted as shown at (38) in the brackets (39) and provided at one end with a fork (41) adapted to engage an annular groove (42) in t-he sleeve (43) forming an integral part of the bevel gear (36).

In operation the wheel should be supported in such a manner that the lower blades f I preferably use a brake shoe (46) engaging a smooth circumferential portion (47) of a' bevel gear (48) meshing with the bevel gear (34) and supported on a pin (49) extending from a plate (5l) secured to the pillar. The brake shoel is operated by means ofa handle (52) also pivoted in the bracket (39).

I claim: A

In a motor of the character described, tWo vertical pillars, bearings supported therein with freedom of sliding` motion, a horizontal shaft supported in the bearings having a Water Wheel fixed thereto, a jack shaft supported in one of the bearings below and in parallel relation to the first shaft, a driving connection .between the Wheelr and tene jack shaft, a bracket extending kfrom the bearing having a vertical shaft supported therein exteriorly of the pillar, a driving connection between the yjack shaft and the verticalshaft, a horizontal shaft supported above lthe rst mentioned shaft having {lexible elements Wound there-on engaging With the bearings for supporting the sa1ne,a bevel gear on the horizontal shaft, a bevel gear on the vertical shaft mounted for selective engagement with the former, manually operated means for effecting such Vengagement for raising the Water Wheel and brake means affecting the bevel gear on the horizontal shaft having manual operating means asso# ciated therewith for effecting a gradual lowering of the Wheel.

EDWIN A. JENKS. 

